College students turned out in droves for Biden: Here's what they want in return
By: Terren Klein (MSN)
Can he take the heat? We shall see................or will this be similar to other silver tongued politicians
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Joe Biden is now the 46th President of the United States - thanks, in large part, to the support of young people.
© Getty Images President Biden
Younger voters turned out to the polls in record numbers for the 2020 presidential election, making the difference in key battleground states and leading Biden to a clear victory. According to the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE), about 55 percent of voting-eligible young people ages 18-29 cast a ballot, compared to about 44 percent in 2016. And overall, the youth vote accounted for about 17 percent of all votes, up from 16 percent in 2016 - and 61 percent of them voted for Biden.
Now, as the new administration settles into office, the same young people who steered the election results are making clear what they expect in return. If President Biden wants to keep the youngest generation of voters in his corner, he'll need to pay attention: Taking their concerns seriously will be key to this administration's time in office, to the future of the Democratic Party, and to the United States.
According to a recent survey of more than 1,000 undergraduate students currently enrolled at two- and four-year institutions across the country, students say the Biden administration's top priorities in its first 100 days should be COVID-19 (86 percent) and the economy/jobs (52 percent). Climate change (35 percent) takes a back seat to the pandemic, though that is likely temporary, as this generation remains among the most vocal and active about the environment.
College students want the new administration to double-down on COVID-19 safety. When it comes to fighting the spread of the virus, nearly 80 percent of college students support a nationwide mask mandate and 65 percent support a nationwide stay-at-home order for one month. College Democrats are far more likely than college Republicans to support a mask mandate (95 percent vs. 35 percent) and a stay-at-home order (87 percent vs. 16 percent).
Forgiving student loan debt is also a priority. About one in four college students fully supports Biden's plan to forgive $10,000 in student loan debt for all borrowers. Nearly one-quarter support the plan but don't think it goes far enough. Just 17 percent don't support the plan at all, and 14 percent say they aren't sure. There's more of a consensus when it comes to forgiving all outstanding student debt, with 70 percent of students supporting this move. Students of color, as well as students who receive financial aid, are more likely to support the plan than their peers.
The Green New Deal or similar environment-focused jobs plans enjoys wide support. These efforts have 80 percent support, and banning fracking has 74 percent support. Similarly, 84 percent of students support investing more money in public transportation, such as a regional high-speed rail system, as a way of combating climate change. Nearly 60 percent of Republican students support investing more money in public transportation, along with 93 percent of Democratic students. Banning fracking is much more divisive; just 13 percent of Republicans support it, compared to 96 percent of Democrats.
The Biden administration ignores the concerns of students and other young people at its own peril.
As a candidate, Biden was not a favorite among college students. His lead among voters in this age group was driven, in large part, not by their allegiance to Biden but by their strong aversion to former President Donald Trump.
According to a "College Students, Voting and the COVID-19 Election," a report College Pulse produced in partnership with the Knight Foundation in last August, less than one in five students had a favorable view of Trump. While views about Biden were much more positive, just under half of students indicated they had a favorable impression of him, and just as many said their views were negative. Importantly, more than one in five college students expressed a negative view of both presidential candidates.
The same was true regarding their views of the Democratic Party. More than half of students said they had a favorable opinion of the party, with about as many expressing a negative opinion.
At the same time, students are increasingly engaged politically, with research showing interest in student activism at an all-time high. About 70 percent of college students have had a political disagreement with a friend or family members, and about one-third have worn pieces of clothing with political messaging. One-third of students have contacted an elected official, and 22 percent have donated money to a political cause. One in five students have attended a protest, march or rally.
The voice of college students contributes to America's path forward. Listening to - and acting upon - their passions and concerns now will ensure that path is a prosperous one for both the administration and the country.
Terren Klein is the CEO and co-founder of College Pulse, a student-focused survey research and analytics firm.
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Can't let them young down. And some wanted to make legal voting age 16? Not on your damned lives.
Never, not ever. In progressive dominated California last November we defeated a proposal to reduce voting age to 17
So... They want to fight covid. I agree with that. Biden does too. They want environment-focused jobs plans. That's good. Biden's already said he's not in favor of cancelling all college debt so that'll have to come from Congress. I don't see a problem here.
The younger the better - preferably those living at home with no life experiences.
They want free stuff. that is why!
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They wanted their country back. Hasn't anyone been paying attention?
Back from their legally elected representatives? So they are opposed to Democracy...
That's quite a generalization as well as being a damning smear. Rather than flagging that comment, I'm going to let you try and prove it.
Is anyone else offended by that comment?
No at all. Never claimed that ALL of Trump voters were racist or white nationalist.
Oooo, scary. You like flagging things you don't like, dontcha?
You do realize that the only people that can be offended by my comment ARE the racists and white nationalists that I mentioned. You understand that, right?????
If you are a Trump voter shouldn't YOU be offended by the racists and white nationalists that have hijacked your preferred candidate?
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I’m offended.
Apparently, you're offended by the truth. You should consider why that is.
See Comment 5.2.3.
Highly offended not to mention it was pretty off topic in my opinion.
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Apparently you're happy with offensive remarks.
Removed for context
And back to a strawman argument. The old standby.
That's a non-sequitur.
they should be, as you have to coax them along...
as i read the upvotes for Vic, it is the usual Trump supporters, and not implying ANYONE is racist, but would be interested in an explanation as to why ANYONE should be offended , when the TRUTH about SOME Trump supporters, is so damn well known...what would i know...? Anybody ....? There is a nice softball thrown, N E body wish to smack it ?
There's assholes in both / every "party". There's assholes in every race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, country, state, county, city, etc. When a handful of people are the ones being portrayed as the majority, I do take issue with that; however, I don't see anyone saying that people that support Dems must be all for adultery. I'd imagine that's because no one believes that silliness. Why people keep using the minority to represent the majority regarding Reps, is beyond me. I find it offensive that people keep labeling Dems "baby killers" just as I'm offended that people allude that Reps are "racist and misogynistic."
Please point out where i stated they were the 'majority', as you read more than i said, but , i do like your musical taste.
I didn't say that you, in particular, stated majority. It's something that's felt when it's stated frequently. Like I said before, I don't like seeing Dems being called "baby killers" either. It's not a partisan thing for me; it's a humanitarian thing for me.
I like your musical taste too.
Race is irrelevant.
Voting age is irrelevant.
Restoring country is irrelevant.
Nationalism is Irrelevant.
Free stuff is irrelevant.
Why are these irrelevant?
Easy!
Terren Klein's suppressed premise is fundamentally incorrect.
Klein apparently assumes that implementing policies on
is a matter of political will.
Not so.
No president, Democrat or Republican, can/would/will do differently.
Such policies are not political options. Campaign managers and politicians understand this perfectly well. That is why such 'policies' are 'safe' for discussion.
Moreover, the ruling class understands fully that election campaigns are for election purposes ONLY.
Note the following:
None of these or any similarly progressive policies can or will be implemented under Capital.
The ruling class is happy to see peons 'debating' irrelevant things.
It isn't so happy when the peons see class rule fraud for what it is.
COVID-19 safety, debt forgiveness, an healthy environment --regardless of race, age, political convictions or national allegiance -- you get none of it.
That preferential treatment is reserved for top, ruling class economic strata.
What prescription is left for the rest of us?
The rest of us exist to project that social class into perpetuity.
Go to work. Breathe infected air. Make profit and die quietly.
Enjoy Capitalism!
PS: I set my own voting age. If a few years when I turn 100, I'll consider voting.
And that is supposed to contribute to political discussion ... what?
The simple easy answer is ALL THE FREE SHIT THEY CAN GET.
Whatever would university students do without such illustrious ambassadors to articulate their concerns for and in their place?
Well they sure are not learning much that is useful from their teachers that's for sure!
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Actually, when I went to college in the early 70's, teachers knew how to teach instead of indoctrinating like they do today!
There are many but the two biggest ones that come to mind are University of California at Berkley and New York University.
Didn't even bother to check did you? Always just so much easier to just deny what you will not or refuse to see isn't it?
Are you able to provide some evidence of said "indoctrination"? If not then why shouldn't everyone just dismiss your partisan opinion as pure fantasy? The burden of proof is on the one making the claim, or do you consider that bit of rationale "leftist indoctrination"?
I provided examples of where this occurs as requested. If you want anything further do your own research.
You made spurious claims as to where you believe it occurs and provided zero evidence of it. You claim it happens at UC Berkeley and NYU so prove it if you can, I don't need to do your research for you to try and debunk a bogus claim you made without evidence.